the effect of education on self-management 5A method on family APGAR of family of children with cerebral palsy

Introduction: Cerebral palsy is a chronic condition that can have a negative impact on the family unit. Families of children with cerebral palsy have numerous difficulties with the family's Apgar Criteria, including "adaptation, participation, growth, affection, and ability to solve problems in life" that necessitate proper interventions. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of self-management training program on Apgar scores of families of children with cerebral palsy. Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, conducted in 2015-2016, 47 parents of children with cerebral palsy ranging from 4 to 12 years of age were selected through Census. In the post intervention phase, due to the decline of the study samples, 23 families were included in the intervention group and 16 families in the control group. After assessment of reliability and validity, data were analyzed using the parent and child cognitive demographic questionnaire and the "smilkstein family Apgar" questionnaire by both parents in a two-step pre-test and post-test self-management program. Data were analyzed using the SPSS version 22 software. Results: The mean Apgar score in the intervention group increase from 6.46 to 7.82 and in the control group from 6.83 to 6.31. The results showed that there was no significant difference in family Apgar scores in the intervention and control groups before the intervention (p = 0.381); nonetheless, in the post-intervention phase there was a significant difference between the two groups in terms of family Apgar scores. “Self-management program based on the 5 A's model” affected families' Apgar score and improved it from the average inefficient to the efficient level (P=0.022). Conclusions: Apgar scores of families of children with cerebral palsy are moderate and education through “self-management program based on the 5 A's model” improved it. In this regard, it is vital that the supporting authorities, in addition to addressing the condition of children, pay more attention to their families.